Belle of Louisville crashes into barge

October 17, 5:53 PMLouisville City Hall ExaminerThomas McAdam

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Louisville’s beloved Belle of Louisville steamboat was involved in a mid-river collision, around 1:45 this afternoon, on the Ohio, approximately a quarter-mile north of Harrods Creek, near Six Mile Island. Authorities told The Chicago Tribune that six to eight passengers aboard the Belle suffered minor injuries, when a strong wind pushed the steamboat into a parked barge on the river. About 300 people were cruising on the boat at the time of the collision.  

The collision caused the Belle to lose power, and it had to be towed back toward the downtown wharf. "The paddlewheel is pretty wrecked," Maj. Kevin Tyler of the Harrods Creek Fire Department told The Associated Press. According to Coast Guard reports, both vessels involved in the collision were damaged.

The 95 year-old steamboat is a favorite among Louisville’s natives and visitors alike, and can carry as many as 750 passengers for short cruises along the Ohio River. The steamboat is listed as a National Historic Landmark and is anchored at Louisville's award winning Waterfront Park.

WAVE-TV-3's Marisela Burgos reports:  Original reports speculated that the Belle struck a barge that was docked near the Indiana side of the river but upon further investigation the Coast Guard determined that the Belle actually struck the McBride dry dock, which is a vessel that is used to raise and lower boats in and out of the Ohio River. The Coast Guard also stated that one person who was on the dock at the time of the accident suffered minor injuries.  (10/18/09)

Learn more:  Belle of Louisville web site

FOX-41’s Stephan Johnson reports:


 

Watch the video:  The Belle of Louisville

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